Drum.



A. D. CONVERSE.

DRUM.

APPLICATION HLED JUNE 1. I915.

Patented Dec. 26,1916.

lhve'nlor: Jllherlonfi. Cozwcr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ATHERTON D. CONVERSE, OF WINCHENDON, MASSACHUSETTS.

DRUM.

Application filed June 1, 1915.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ATHERTON D. CON- vnnsn, acitizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Winchendon,in the county of Vorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Drums, of which thefollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to toy drums, and has for its object theprovision of means for ornamenting the exterior of the shell whereby thegeneral appearance of the periphery of the body of the drum may bechanged at will.

The invention consists of surrounding the shell of the drum with aplurality of rings each having a plurality of characters thereon, eachring being adapted to be moved independently of the other rings to causethe characters thereon to coact with selected characters on the otherrings, thereby forming a puzzle which makes the drum additionallyattractive to the owner as it may be used for two distinct purposes.

The invention further consists in certain novel features of constructionand arrangement of parts which will be fully understood by reference tothe description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents an elevation of a drum embodyingthe prin ciples of the present invention, and Fig. 2 represents avertical section of the same.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the figures of thedrawings.

In the drawings, 10 is the cylindrical shell or body of a drum havingsecured to the ends thereof the heads 11 and 12. The shell 10 is ofgreater diameter at each end to receive the heads 11 and 12, therebyforming shoulders 13 and 14 between which are interposed rings 15, 16,and 17, each of which is U-shaped in cross section. The flanges of therings 15, 16, and 17 bear against the periphery of the shell 10, thusreducing the friction to a minimum when the ring is moved about the axisof said shell or body 10. The drum is provided with the usual cords 18and tightening straps 19. Each of the rings 15, 16, and 17 is providedwith a plurality of compartments 20 and each compartment 20 is providedwith a character of some description such as a letter 21 of the alphabetor a sec- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 26, 1916.

Serial No. 32,010.

tion 22 of a picture. As shown in the drawings the ring 15 has a seriesof heads in alternate compartments 20 thereon, while the ring 16 isprovided with a series of bodies 23 and the ring 17 with a series oflegs 24. Each ring 15, 16, or 17, is provided with a plurality ofperforations 25 by which the rings may be moved relatively to eachother, a pencil or other similar member being inserted in a perforationfor this object.

A child when tired of drumming may amuse itself by changing thepositions of the various rings and making various combinations of heads,bodies, and legs, the combinations thus effected in some cases beingvery hideous. The combination of the letters on the various rings willspell various words and consequently the drum may be used forinstruction.

lVhile individuals of different races are shown on the rings in thedrawings, it is evident that the pictures of well-known persons may besubstituted therefor, or the compartments may be supplied with sectionsof interior or exterior views.

The device may be used as a puzzle for the smaller children by movingthe rings 15, 16, and 17 about the axis of the shell so as to mix up thevarious compartments and then let a child endeavor to reset the rings intheir proper positions.

It is obvious that drums thus constructed will afford additionalattraction to small children and would have the additional advantagethat a childs attention would be diverted a portion of the time frombeating the drum while he is amusing himself with changing the variouscharacters on the periphery of the shell.

It is believed that the operation and many advantages of this inventionwill be fully understood from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I

Q 1,2o9,e75

2. In a toy puzzle drum, the combination 01 a cylindrical shell havingend portions into each end portion; a plurality of rings surroundingsaid member between said shoulders and having their outer facescontinuously exposed to View; a plurality of characters on said exposedfaces with their tops and bottoms adjacent the edges of said rings; andmeans whereby each ring may be moved about the aXis of said cylindricalmember.

Signed by me at 4- Post Oflice Sq, Boston, Mass, this 20th day of May,1915.

ATHERTON D. CONVERSE.

Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, 1). C.

